1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of BFE. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
It takes place somewhere out in the west because Panny mentions the desert and how hot it can be. It occurs in the late 90's and Panny is 14, asain-American tenage girl.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
Panny tries to call Nancy, but accidentally calls a college guy named Hugo.
Hugo's the reason that the climax of the play was able to happen.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
You could argue it's how Panny tells the audience what happened to her.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Does Lefty link up wit Evvie? Is Panny alright? Is the man caught?
5. Use Panny, Isabelle, or Lefty to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for one of the three designated characters..
I chose Lefty:
Me against Myself: Lefty must fight his own nervous insecurity to win the heart of Evvie
Me against Someone: Lefty against Evvie and how she doesn't want to be a mother.
Me against Society: Lefty must come to terms that he isn't getting super far in society.
Me against Fate: Lefty against his fate of staying with his family. Should he leave with Evvie? Or stay and remain with his family?
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. In your estimation what is the most theatrical moment in BFE and what happens during that moment which is so important to the outcome of the play?
There are three: Lefty and Evvie coming to terms with moving in with each other, Isabel and the Pizza Delivery guy, and Hugo leaving with Nancy.
I chose the last option, because this is what starts the rising action of Isabel getting abducted and attacked. Were Nancy and Hugo more caring, or if Panny just hadn't gone, nothing would have happened.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in BFE. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The healer figurine: This shows us that Lefty thinks Evvie is actually helping him live again.
The phone: It shows the mystery and apprehension that Panny faces every time she talks to Hugo.
The Letters: Panny and her interactions with her pen pal are showing us the drastic differences in two lives that are apart from one another, and how someone could not understand the situations of another person, or assume that they have it better because of where they live.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in BFE.
EASY: American Idolization, Hope, insecurities.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with BFE? Is family redefined in BFE and if so, in what ways?
Family has to do with this because It talks about how Panny keeps trying to connect to the outside world, but keeps coming back to family because her attempts fail. Kind of like how you're stuck with family.
It takes place somewhere out in the west because Panny mentions the desert and how hot it can be. It occurs in the late 90's and Panny is 14, asain-American tenage girl.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
Panny tries to call Nancy, but accidentally calls a college guy named Hugo.
Hugo's the reason that the climax of the play was able to happen.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
You could argue it's how Panny tells the audience what happened to her.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Does Lefty link up wit Evvie? Is Panny alright? Is the man caught?
5. Use Panny, Isabelle, or Lefty to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for one of the three designated characters..
I chose Lefty:
Me against Myself: Lefty must fight his own nervous insecurity to win the heart of Evvie
Me against Someone: Lefty against Evvie and how she doesn't want to be a mother.
Me against Society: Lefty must come to terms that he isn't getting super far in society.
Me against Fate: Lefty against his fate of staying with his family. Should he leave with Evvie? Or stay and remain with his family?
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. In your estimation what is the most theatrical moment in BFE and what happens during that moment which is so important to the outcome of the play?
There are three: Lefty and Evvie coming to terms with moving in with each other, Isabel and the Pizza Delivery guy, and Hugo leaving with Nancy.
I chose the last option, because this is what starts the rising action of Isabel getting abducted and attacked. Were Nancy and Hugo more caring, or if Panny just hadn't gone, nothing would have happened.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in BFE. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The healer figurine: This shows us that Lefty thinks Evvie is actually helping him live again.
The phone: It shows the mystery and apprehension that Panny faces every time she talks to Hugo.
The Letters: Panny and her interactions with her pen pal are showing us the drastic differences in two lives that are apart from one another, and how someone could not understand the situations of another person, or assume that they have it better because of where they live.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in BFE.
EASY: American Idolization, Hope, insecurities.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with BFE? Is family redefined in BFE and if so, in what ways?
Family has to do with this because It talks about how Panny keeps trying to connect to the outside world, but keeps coming back to family because her attempts fail. Kind of like how you're stuck with family.